The Difference Between a Dentist and a Prosthodontist

If you had a heart problem, you would go to a cardiologist. The same line of thinking should be true for missing or damaged teeth.

Missing teeth can pose a serious problem to your health, and a prosthodontist is uniquely qualified to be your partner for healthy, long-lasting restored teeth. What is a prosthodontist? A prosthodontist is the official and recognized dental specialty to receive advanced training in the restoration of teeth, including the use of crowns, bridges, veneers, dentures and dental implants.

In the United States, there are an estimated 120 million people missing at least one tooth, and 36 million Americans are missing all teeth in one or both jaws. Missing even one tooth can severely impact an individual’s confidence, job prospects, and overall health, which is why it is important to replace missing teeth properly.

It’s easy to get confused on which professional is the perfect fit for your specific dental need. There are many companies who market heavily to put their “quick fix” in front of you, hoping you’ll choose them. But this doesn’t always mean you’re choosing correctly. This article is being written to help educate my community on the difference between dentists, cosmetic dentists and prosthodontists, a specialist in the restoration of an aesthetic (beautiful) smiles and well-functioning teeth. To clarify, the majority of dentists are general dentists and don’t specialize in one of the nine recognized dental specialties. This is not to say that general dentists can’t handle more complicated issues, as there are some general dentists who are very talented and well-trained. And truthfully, not all specialists are perfect either, however, it is important for consumers to understand this distinction.

A major source of confusion in the marketplace is the term “cosmetic dentist.” Most people don’t realize this is not a dental specialty, but simply a marketing phrase. The truth is, all great dentists focus on aesthetics so that any dental work looks natural and gives their patient confidence.

When reaching out for solutions for dentures and dental implants, the most highly trained specialist in the field is a prosthodontist. A prosthodontist has not only completed their four years of general dentistry eduction, but they’ve invested an additional three years of one-on-one mentorship of advanced clinical and laboratory procedures that are usually not covered in dental training.

April 8-14 is National Prosthodontics Awareness Week, the perfect time to explore your options for a healthier, happier mouth.

Call us at (407) 351-4440 for help in answering any of your questions.